Important Skills To Have When Administering First Aid
Imagine that you’re working at your office, eating dinner at your table, or walking down the road. Then, one moment, you hear a thud, and a coworker, family member, or stranger collapses. What will you do? How will you help them in this moment of crisis? Here are the most important skills to have when administering first aid.
The Most Common First-Aid Situations
While most days pass without a significant health problem, every person will eventually experience some form of injury that requires immediate first aid attention. Here are the most common first-aid situations.
Benefits of First Aid Training in the Workplace
Ensuring the safety of your workplace is essential to the productivity and retention of employees. However, many people forgo medical emergency training, relying on emergency response times to save injured people. Take a step toward total safety and train yourself or a staff member in basic lifesaving skills. Here are the main benefits of first aid training in the workplace.
What First Aid Training Includes
Fundamental lifesaving skills are important to learn for your safety and that of others. Without proper training, people are less likely to act or act with the appropriate techniques during an emergency. If you are looking to prepare yourself and learn more, here is what first aid training includes.
Why Basic First Aid Knowledge Is Essential
The world can be unpredictable, with emergencies happening all the time. But, oftentimes, we are helpless to act quickly and appropriately in these situations. Here are a few reasons why basic first aid knowledge is essential.
Beat the Heat! How to Help Someone Suffering from a Heat Emergency
Heat emergencies occur when a person's body overheats from hot temperatures and dehydration. It is critical to identify early signs of a heat emergency because without early treatment, symptoms can worsen and become life-threatening. Your quick actions could save a life.
There are 3 types of heat emergencies in order from least-to-most severe:
Don't Remove an Impaled Object!
How to care for a person with an Impaled Object?
An penetrating injury occurs when an object enters the body, causing a wound. Sometimes the object will remain stuck in the body. For example, a large piece of glass, wood or metal might be seen sticking out of the wound.
Here's the #1 rule: Do not remove the impaled object..
Brrr! How to recognize and treat hypothermia!
Living in New York means enduring harsh winters, including snow, freezing wind and icy sidewalks. To protect yourself from serious injury, it's important to recognize the signs and symptoms of HYPOTHERMIA.
Healing Head Trauma: How to Spot a Concussion
A concussion is a common type of brain injury that involves temporary loss of brain function. Concussions can occur from any injury to the head. The injury may be minor (a small bump) or something more significant like a baseball strike to the head.
Severe Bleeding: How to Use a Tourniquet
When should I use a Tourniquet?
- Severe, life-threatening bleeding to the arms or legs that cannot be controlled with direct pressure.
- A wound in a physical location that makes it impossible to apply direct pressure (e.g., a person with a leg trapped under a rock).
- Gunshot injuries or bomb blast wounds in an unsafe scene.
Don't Use Butter! How to Safely Treat Burns.
How do I know if a burn is severe?
Burns range from minor to severe. Severe burns, include:
Burns to children younger than 5 years old.
Burns to adults older than 60 years old.
Someone's seizing on the train! What should you do?
You're riding the A-train express between 59th and 125th street. As the train picks up speed, you hear a commotion at the end of the car - an elderly man has suddenly starting seizing violently. His arms and legs tense and jerking, eyes rolled up so all you can see is white, bloody foam pouring from his mouth.
What should you do?
Think FAST! Is your loved one having a stroke?
Stroke can occur very suddenly and without warning when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts.
It can affect people of all ages (not just the elderly!)
A stroke can cause permanent brain damage or even death
Ouch! You're bleeding! What should you do?
For major bleeding, send someone to call 9-1-1
Take gauze from a first aid kit and apply hard, consistent pressure directly on top of the wound.
If you don't have gauze, use any clean piece of cloth instead.
If blood soaks through the first piece of gauze, do not remove it. Taking off old gauze might tear out clots and cause bleeding to worsen.
Allergic Reaction! Act fast.
Allergic reactions are common in both adults and children. In some cases, allergic reactions are mild and may produce sneezing, itchy eyes and small rashes. But for others, allergic reactions are much more severe. These life-threatening reactions are called "anaphylaxis."
Take a Breath! How to Help During an Asthma Attack
Asthma is a chronic medical condition in which certain substances and conditions (called triggers) cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways resulting in difficulty breathing. According to the American Red Cross, "common triggers include
What's the number for Poison Control - and why should you care?
Last year, there were 2.2 million incidents of human poisoning, according to the National Poison Control Center. 8% of those resulted in serious illness or death. Pediatric patients (children and babies) experienced unintentional poisoning at a much higher rate than adults.
Knowing how to take action could save your life or the life of a loved one.
Why You Should Make Your Own First Aid Kit
Having a well-stocked First Aid kit is an important part of protecting yourself and your family.
Many workplaces and homes have these kits. They typically buy them pre-stocked with a wide variety of items that "someone else" has decided is valuable in an emergency.